The Clinton administration on Jan. 12 proposed a record $1.03 billion in land conservation spending for fiscal 2000.

The President asked Congress to spend $1.03 billion in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 on land conservation, with $900 million coming from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Of the total, Clinton wants $413 million for acquisitions by the four land management agencies, a 26% hike over current funding. He requested $487 million of LWCF money for other land and water programs within the Agriculture and Commerce departments that usually are funded by other means.

Clinton's announcement came one day after Vice President Gore proposed $700 million in tax credits to help states and localities pay Tor bonds of $9.5 billion to fund green space and park acquisition and water quality and brownfield cleanup projects.

The proposals face one big hurdle: funding. Despite the budget surplus, Congress must operate under spending caps enacted two years ago or pass a law to change them. Congress could end up using the surplus to cover new spending. But it's too early to tell.

The federal land acquisition proposal ($413 million) faces the brightest prospect for success because it requires no change in authorizing legislation. Appropriators see acquisition of inholdings as a priority.

The other proposals -- using LWCF funds on new programs and providing tax credits for conservation bonds-face longer odds because they require authorizing legislation.

LWCF: Of the $1.03 billion, $413 million is targeted for federal acquisitions. Key projects: $84 million to protect 20,722 acres in the Everglades, $36 million to help acquire 437,000 acres in the Mojave Desert, $22 million to protect 1,553 acres at Civil War battlefields and $16 million to add 28,000 acres to national forests and refuges in New England.

New state grants: The administration wants $50 million for a new matching grant program to help states develop open space preservation and "smart-growth" strategies. The administration wants to retool the stateside LWCF program by awarding $150 million in land conservation grants to states on a competitive basis with money going to projects consistent with state "smart growth" plans. Clinton asked for $10 million to create a revolving loan fund that nonprofits, state and local governments could use to acquire land and easements in rural areas.

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would get $80 million (up from $14 million) for state grants to acquire land for threatened and endangered species.

Forest Legacy: The administration asked for $50 million (up from $7 million) for state grants to buy conservation easements on 135,000 acres of private forest.

Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery: The dormant UPARR program would get $4 million in grants to restore parks.

Urban and Community Forestry: The Forest Service program would get $40 million (+29%) for grants to states and localities to expand urban forests and green space.

Farmland Protection Program: Clinton wants $50 million to resurrect the USDA's Farmland Protection Program, which provided $35 million in matching grants from 1996-98 to buy easements on 127,000 acres of farmland under threat of development. Congress didn't fund the program in fiscal '99.

Coastal and ocean protection: The administration asked for $183 million to promote better planning for growth along coasts ($90 million), manage national marine sanctuaries ($29 million), acquire and protect fishery habitat ($25 million), double the size of the national estuarine research reserves to 1 million acres ($19 million), protect coral reefs ($10 million) and use dredge material to restore coastal habitat ($10 million).

Common Ground, Vol 10, No. 3. March/April 1999.